Jolene debated how much to say. “I did wonder if he might not have some issues at home.”

“Indeed,” Titus said with a nod of his head. “How about his father? The last teacher also had trouble with him.”

“Ben stopped by yesterday to ask how his son was doing in school. I told him Mace was doing fine.”

“Good.” Titus rose to his feet. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t having any problems. Ben can be kind of a bully. If you have any trouble with him, you let me know.” His blue eyes glinted as he smiled. “It sounds as if you’re doing a fine job. Oh, by the way, the door was open when I arrived.”

“I locked it last night. At least I would have sworn I did.” Jolene worried that she’d been distracted and might not have locked it.

“I suppose there could be some keys floating around from former teachers,” he said. “Don’t worry about it. No harm done. It’s not like there is much to steal.”

She walked Titus out. Back at her desk, she noticed that one of the drawers was partially open. Had she left it like that?

Opening the drawer, she glanced at the short stories she’d already read and graded. Someone had gone through the stack.

When Dulcie opened the door to her motel room the next morning, she found Russell Corbett leaning against his pickup, waiting for her. She was instantly reminded of their kiss and felt a pleasurable warmth flow through her bloodstream.

“How do you feel about breakfast?”

She smiled, surprised how glad she was to see him. Last night, she hadn’t told him why she was asking questions about the schoolteacher because she’d seen how scared the teacher had been at seeing her again. Whatever it was about, she felt she needed to keep the teacher’s secret.

Nor was she going to talk about her problems. She only had a few more days here and she wanted them to be pleasant. Russell Corbett made them pleasant.

“I’m for breakfast.”

“Good, because I worked up an appetite standing around out here,” he said, opening her door.

“You could have just knocked on my door,” she said as she slipped into the passenger seat.

“And disturb your sleep? I couldn’t chance that you’re one of those people who’s crabby if she doesn’t get enough sleep,” he said, starting the engine.

She smiled to herself as she studied him, his big hands on the wheel, and with that almost arrogant confidence about him that drew her in spite of herself.

“Okay,” she said later, after she’d put away a large slice of ham, two eggs, hash browns and toast. “Let’s hear it.”

“Hear what?”

“Two meals, compliments and all this chivalry? What’s this about?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”